Italian Flag Ferrari 250 GT Lusso ( GT/L ) ~ 1962-64

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso GTLAfter the beautiful and glorious, dual-purpose street and racing machine, the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB,Ferrari 250 GT Lusso GTL Ferrari decided to replace the SWB with two different sports cars. The new racer would be the now legendary 250 GTO, and for touring use, Enzo Ferrari wanted a more dedicated car for the street with the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (Luxury) or 250 GT/L.

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso GTLThe chassis used was the race proven short wheelbase unit measuring 2400 mm (94.5 in) from the 250 SWB, making the Lusso a genuine sports car with disc brakes all around, while the suspension was still independent in the front with double wishbones and coil springs. The back-end was still live with a leaf spring layout, but this rear setup was well proven by now and almost vice free.

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso GTLThe 250 GTL was penned by PininFarina, then coachbuilt down the road from Ferrari by Scaglietti. Body panels were steel, except for its doors, hood and trunk lids which were made out of aluminum. It received exposed upright headlights, and a three piece chrome bumper that included two extra small vertical bumper elements underlining the turningFerrari 250 GT Lusso GTL signals like a cornetto (ice cream cone). This not seen before design layout worked surprisingly well on the Lusso’s front-end, innovatively breaking down the way a bumper should look time and time again. Even without the elegant recessed air entry hood scoop found on the 250 SWB or the 250 California SWB, the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso GTL250 Lusso still kept on adding on points for beauty with its very elegant and glittering hood air-scoop accentuated by a thin meshed metal screen and its chrome trim. This and the fact that the 250 GT Lusso also had delicate and very thin all around pillars and a full three quarter rear side window that ended in a gorgeous point dripping down to follow the rearFerrari 250 GT Lusso GTL fender line did help a little. The rear was finished as a truncated kamm tail and incorporated a small rear spoiler lip, which was a world first with the GTO’s more massive rear unit. One round taillight on each side of the Kamm-tail with the traditional four exhaust setup finished the job. Underlining this Goddess was a set of Borrani wire wheels where Girling disc brakes fitted all around elevated this diva to the ultimate in elegance.

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso GTLThe interior was also spectacular and as unusual as the dress the Lusso was adorned with two main and very imposing Veglia speedo and revFerrari 250 GT Lusso GTL counter dials at the center of the dashboard. Both of these dials were lodged in their own pods with sun visors and oriented towards the driver on a stitched leather dashboard. In front of the driver were the five small gauges usually seen in the center of the dash, which included the internal fluid pressure and temperature status gauges as well as the clock. This new out of the box thinking was very Ferrari 250 GT Lusso GTLartistic and broke many molds while the flip-up chrome ashtray sat on the transmission tunnel in the middle of two leather bucket seats with ample rear space for luggage on the rear parcel shelf.

The power plant was the smooth and well proven 3 liter (180 cu in) Colombo V12 engine giving 250 hp at 7500 rpm with the help of three Weber carburetors. The engine was then mated to a non exposed metal gated all synchronized four speed gearbox. Performance was quite good for a 2866 lb (1300 kg) car of a three liter capacity with the 0-62 mph coming atFerrari 250 GT Lusso GTL 7 seconds and with a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h).

The Ferrari 250 GT Lusso production run stopped in 1964 with 350 cars sold. It actually took the car collector world quite some time to recognize the purity and intricacy of its simple lines and interior, making the 250 Lusso one of the top most beautiful production Ferraris ever produced.

JJP.

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso ( GTL ) Specifications
Model/Year Ferrari 250 GT Lusso - GTL / 1962-64
Designer Pinin Farina
Engine Type All alloy V12 @ 60˚, SOHC. 2V
Capacity 2953 cc / 180 cu in
Fuel Feed 3 Weber 36 DCS carbs. ( 6 Weber 38 DCN on Competizione models)
Power 250 hp @ 7500 rpm (300 hp @ 7500 rpm on Competizione models)
Torque 215 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm (246 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm on Competizione models)
Transmission 4 speed - RWD
Top Speed 143 mph - 230 km/h
0-62 mph - 0-100 km/h 7 sec
Chassis Steel Tubular
Weelbase 2400 mm / 94.5 in
Front Suspension 2 Wishbones, Coil Springs, Tube Shocks. Anti-roll Bar
Rear Suspension Live Axle - Semi-elliptic Leave Springs
Brakes Girling Disc all around
Front Tires 185 x 15 in
Rear Tires 185 x 15 in
Steering Worm & wheel
Weight 2800 lb / 1270 kg (depending on coachwork)
Country of Origin Italy
Production Num. 350 - including 3 Competizione
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Not ever seen before rear
quarter window base line that arches back into the belt line
is a pure exquisite artistic touch that is also not overdone
and gives the Lusso a mature design.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Well represented three piece
slip bumper and encased extra driving lamps.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Purposeful and beautiful leather
bucket seats with luscious quilted rear parcel shelf.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Same truncated rear Kamm-tail
design as found in the later 1964-68 Ferrari 275 GTB.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - The Lusso could have been
fitted with trendy sporty covered headlights, but the Lusso
and its "normally" exposed headlamps pulls the mature and
confident card out and looks now more classic and timeless
than most other "sophisticated" Ferrari designs.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - This set of two main dials
should be in front of the driver as in the 250 SWB Berlinetta
or California Spyder, but not on the 250 GT Lusso. This is for
the better because it is one of those odd little things, like the
rear quarter window and "cornetto" front bumpers, that
makes the Lusso coupe an extra special automobile.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Very artistic and
ground breaking way of laying out the dials.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Even if the Lusso is a
confident Lady, it is also a serious runner that is ready
to get to 60 mph in 7 seconds, and in the 60's it
was a number that commanded respect .
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Again, very clean design
without much interfiring with the original lines.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Here you can see the three
piece front bumper with the main unit only covering the
grill's width while the extra driving lamps are integrated
in the front panel and finished with a thin chrome trim.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Surprisingly the Lusso doesn't
have an intricate recessed entry scoop like a SWB, but
the extra chrome accents and the mesh screen makes up for it.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Delicate chromed pieces
like the thin trim work around the windows and bumpers
as well as the Borani wheels makes the Lusso extremely elegant.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - The long rear quarter
window makes the Lusso appear long, but the Lusso was
built on Ferrari's short chassis (2400 mm / 94.5 in).
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - 3 liter (180 cu in)
Colombo V12 engine with three Weber carburetors.
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso / GTL - Long arched and flowing belt line.